Carestart malaria rdt

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI/ALERT) (PO42/18) and the National Research Ethics Review Committee (MoSHE//RD 141/1097/19). Enrolment was made after explaining the purpose of the study and obtaining written informed consent. Consenting febrile patients (axillary temperature ≥ 37.5 or history of fever within the last 48 h) attending the outpatient department were screened as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Volunteer patients who fulfilled the following criteria were recruited: confirmed P. vivax mono infection (microscopically and CareStart™ Malaria RDT, Access Bio Inc), haemoglobin (Hb) level ≥ 5 g/dL, asexual parasitaemia ≥ 250 parasites/µL, aged above 6 months, ability to swallow oral medication, and a negative pregnancy test or not breastfeeding [27 ].

Malaria RDT test kits (CareStart Malaria RDT (Access Bio. Inc., New Jersey, USA)) were used to screen for malaria simultaneously with the G6PD RDT. Samples collected were transported to the KHRC laboratory to prepare blood slides to examine for malaria parasites. Microscopic examinations of thick and thin blood films were conducted to confirm malaria diagnosis. Thin and thick peripheral blood smears prepared were read by two independent microscopists, and by a third microscopist if the results were discordant on positivity or on parasite density, as described by Adu-Gyasi et al, 2012 [29 (link)].

All 31 SHCs were proposed to participate in the study protocol. In the participating SHCs, patients presenting with clinical malaria cases or their tutors were asked to answer a short one-page questionnaire about socio-demographic data and exposure to MCIs: LLIN, IRS and IPTp. Inclusion criteria were (1) fever, i.e., axillary temperature ≥37.5 °C [13 (link)] or self-reported symptoms of fever; (2) RDT or microscopy positive for any Plasmodium species; (3) age ≥6 months; and (4) informed consent of the patient or his/her tutor. CareStart^® Malaria RDT (Access Bio Inc., Monmouth Junction (NJ), USA) was used, which is the RDT commonly used in the public health system in Madagascar. Cases were retained in the database if they came from the same commune as controls. Data were collected from September 2012 to August 2013.